Fast forward to today and many of the larger container nurseries have moved away from the traditional woody crops and are now focusing on flowering crops. Examples are the explosion of roses, hydrangeas, buddleias, sages and other blooming plants. While many of these are true perennials, they are being grown as annuals in more northern climates for mixed containers, such as dracaena spikes, which were rarely seen outside of tropical areas or interiorscapes. And many of the larger nurseries are now more than 50 percent color crops as opposed to traditional woody plants.

According to Joyce Latimer of Virginia Tech, most of the PGR questions she gets are from nursery operations. She credits this with the expanded production of blooming perennials and especially the use of PGRs on the less herbaceous crops like hydrangeas and roses. Another factor is that the greenhouse grower is more familiar with PGRs and has more established routines or programs.

New market
Many of the current and newly introduced perennials have a lot of color and are changing the marketplace. Most need some sort of help to increase flower production or shorten plants to aid in shipping and handling.

Rosemary plug treated four weeks after Augeo treatment. (L-R) 0 ppm, 400 ppm, 800 ppm, 1,600 ppm. Photo courtesy of Joyce Latimer

Since we don’t want our plants to look like they came from the ditch, we must use measures to improve quality. Growers can either use hand labor to pinch or trim plants, or explore the use of PGRs to increase the quality of their perennial and woody crops. Since quality labor is increasingly expensive, you may very well want to explore the use of PGRs for your crops. Most of the factors involved with these products hold true when used on either herbaceous or woody species, but not always. So seek advice before you begin using them.“I am now growing plants for sale that were weeds in the ditch growing up in southern Missouri,” said Matt Chambers of Stark Bro’s Nurseries in Louisiana, Mo.

A PGR primer
The commercial PGR products fall into six or seven different groups. The main mode of action group is the GA (gibberellic acid) inhibitors. These products inhibit the natural production of GA. All of these products act to hold or reduce internode stretch of plant stems. They can be divided into three basic groups based on their activity or residual action. Group 1 consists of Cycocel and B-Nine—they belong to the ammonium class and are considered as low level of activity.

A-Rest and Topflor belong to the pyrimidine class and are generally considered as medium level of activity.

The highest level of activity and residual action products are members of the triazole class. Common products are Paczol, Bonzi and Sumagic, and are generally used at very low ppm rates.

The cyclohexaketones are a relatively new class to the ornamental market. Augeo is a new product in this class. The function of Augeo is to trick the plant into thinking it has been pinched to release the lateral shoots. Unlike manual or chemical pinching, Augeo will cause slight yellowing in the apical tips but generally does not abort the tip or flowers. Augeo has been on the market for just a few years and work is very encouraging on perennials.

The third group is the fatty acids such as Off-Shoot O. Their function is to “burn” the tip tissue to perform a classic chemical pinch. Affected tissue generally browns up and then drops off similar to the effect of a manual pruning.

The GA class is generally regarded as growth promoters. The two main products are ProGibb T&O (GA3) and Fascination (a combination of GA 4+7 and benzyladenine). They can be used to correct an overdose of the GA inhibitors or to increase stem elongation where desired.

Ethylene promoters are classified as acids and increase ethylene production in plants. Florel formulations are the main products. They act to disrupt or over-ripen terminal tissues, thus releasing lateral buds. Care must be used if applied too close to flowering, as ethylene can abort flowers.

The rooting hormones are synthetic auxins. Major products are Hormodin and Dip N Grow. Auxins stimulate root production; therefore these products are used for rooting purposes. Herbaceous plants need just a little auxin to promote rooting, while woody plants will require higher levels of auxin to promote rooting.

Roses 4 weeks after Uniconazole treatment. (L-R) 0 ppm, 15 ppm, 30 ppm, 45, ppm, 60 ppm. Photo courtesy of Joyce Latimer

A new PGR under development is Con-Tego from Valent. It is an abscisic acid (ABA). It is being evaluated for its effect on leaf stomates, the pore cells found on the underside of leaf. By regulating these pores, the plant can withstand dry periods better. Simply stated, the plant needs less water. Commercial interest would be in extending shelf life for plants at the retail level.

While knowledge about using PGRs in nurseries is always expanding, there are numerous university sources of information available to growers including Virginia Tech (http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-103/430-103_pdf.pdf) and Michigan State http://hrt.msu.edu/floraoe/pgrinfo/).

Paul Pilon offers extensive advice on the culture of perennials including PGRs in his book Perennial Solutions. OHP Inc. (formerly Olympic Horticultural Products) has also made its iPhone PGR calculator app and OHP PGR Solutions available free to growers.

Article by: Andy Seckinger

Kontos has unique features that set it apart from most other products such as true up-and-down movement in the plant. It is both foliar and root absorbed.

Kontos is phloem-active, meaning users can foliar-apply (spray) and be assured that the active ingredient (spirotetramat) will move down in the plant. When applied as a foliar spray, a spreader-sticker may improve performance.

Growers can also soil drench Kontos and because it is xylem-active, the active ingredient will move up systemically through the roots to the growing tips. Soil drench rates have been increased to offer better control of hard-to-control insect pests.

“The best way to use Kontos is early in the crop cycle when insect populations are low and the product has time to work,” notes OHP Director, Technical Services Jeff Dobbs. Dobbs notes that Kontos moves slowly throughout the plant. Users may not see results for 10 days to two weeks, depending on the plant and pest combination, he adds.

Kontos may be sprayed on bedding plant plugs while still in trays. This new application strategy takes advantage of the foliar systemic action and also saves the grower time and money.

“Plugs sprayed at this time will usually have 3 to 4 weeks of control which gives the root system time to develop,” says Dobbs.

An application of an alternate Mode of Action (MOA) systemic insecticide like Marathon^® will then eliminate most of the insect pests in a typical bedding plant crop cycle.

OHP is a leading marketer of pest control solutions to the production ornamentals market.

OHP will be showcasing the results of its plant growth regulators (PGR) on perennials and annuals such as lantana, geranium, petunia, calibrachoa, sedum and pennisetum (grass) at American Takii in Salinas.

In addition, OHP will demonstrate the effect of its PGR Augeo® on no-pinch poinsettias.

OHP Senior Technical Manager Dave Barcel will coordinate the display, evaluating the performance of the OHP’s PGRs B-Nine®, Cycocel®, Paczol® and Augeo on the many quality varieties of American Takii.

“We feel very privileged to be able to be a small part of the event,” notes Barcel, who will be participating in his 17^th Spring Trial.  “American Takii has graciously agreed to provide us an expanded demonstration area for this year’s trials. They are a great host and destination spot.”

The annual event draws attendees from throughout the world as participating companies feature the latest in genetics and plant materials.

Watch a video with Dave Barcel at last years California Spring Trials.

OHP is a leading marketer of pest control solutions to the production ornamentals market.

(B-Nine and Paczol are registered trademarks of Chemtura Corporation.  Cycocel is a registered trademark of BASF Corp.  Augeo is a registered trademark of OHP, Inc.)

Simply treat plugs or rooted cuttings in the beginning stage 1 to 2 days after receiving.

Plug applications of Augeo, Kontos, and Compass O or Veranda O  save the growers time and money while producing better plants

November 2011 issue of  Greenhouse Product News (GPN).

Author: Andy Seckinger – OHP, Inc

Click here to see a full printable version of the article

A look at how Kontos insecticide with a new revised label fares against mealybugs, whiteflies, aphids and other pests.

Click here to see a full version of this article that can be viewed and printed

The Kontos specimen label has recently been altered to include the following:

• Control of immature stages of thrips
• Drench and foliar spray labeling for outdoor applications at 1.7 to 3.4 fluid ounces per 100 gallon of water
• Removal of aerial application

Takeaways

• Efficacy of Kontos compared well with several other products against a variety of insect pests, including mealybugs, whiteflies, and leafminers.
• Based on efficacy and novel mode of action , Kontos is a great tool for insecticide resistance mitigation and management of these important pests.
• Insect control by Kontos is slow but long lasting.
• It is best used against small populations or early in the crop cycle

The new website design features several changes that make navigation and information retrieval even easier. The site is available in Spanish as well.

OHP will roll out the new site at the OFA Short Course July 9-12.

Among the improvements aimed at providing the same great information with a better delivery mechanism:

• Quicker and more robust search functionality
• One-click access to information
• Enhanced visual layout
• Improved video access
• Better compatibility for today’s mobile devices

Designed and developed by OHP Manager of Marketing Services Ryan Boehm, the site allows for easy access to OHP literature such as specimen labels and MSDS. All literature has been recently updated.

We realize that company websites are more important than ever and we plan to maintain and upgrade the OHP website on a regular basis to stay on the leading edge of communication,” notes OHP Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Dan Stahl.

OHP, Inc. is a leading marketer of pest control solutions for the greenhouse and nursery markets with over 50 products to serve the needs of today’s grower.

Sirocco is a unique broad-spectrum miticide and insecticide that provides growers with an effective tool for many hard to control greenhouse and nursery pests.

Sirocco provides control of a variety of mites including two-spotted spider mites, spruce spider mites, cyclamen mites, broad mites, bud mites, and southern red mites. Additionally, Sirocco provides control of insects such as leafminers as well as suppression of aphids, thrips, and whiteflies. Sirocco, a unique combination of bifenazate and abamectin, provides growers with two different modes of action, notes Jeff Dobbs, OHP director of technical services. “Growers will note fast activity on a broad-spectrum of mites with Sirocco and in addition, translaminar activity,” notes Dobbs.

Sirocco can be used on ornamental plants such as bedding plants, foliage plants, bulb crops, perennials, and shrubs and trees, including non-bearing fruit trees grown in greenhouses, shadehouses, nurseries, landscapes, and interiorscapes. Testing has shown excellent plant safety. “We are excited about the level of mite control that Sirocco provides our grower partners”, says Terry Higgins, OHP vice-president and general manager, “Sirocco is a great addition to our current portfolio of mite and insect solutions.” OHP is a leading marketer of pest control solutions to the production ornamentals market. For more information on OHP or Sirocco, click here.

Disarm O is a broad-spectrum foliar and drench systemic fungicide that offers control of many troublesome foliar diseases as well as soil-borne diseases such as rhizoctonia and phytophthora. Among the foliar diseases controlled by Disarm O are anthracnose, powdery mildew, rusts, and leaf spots. Disarm O may be used on plants growing in containers, benches, flats, plugs, and beds in greenhouses, shadehouses, nurseries, and interiorscapes. Rigorous testing has shown excellent plant safety.

Disarm O, a member of the strobilurin class of fungicides (MOA Group 11), delivers unique benefits to the grower, notes Jeff Dobbs, OHP director of technical services. “Most strobilurins are strongest as foliar disease control products. Disarm O is not only strong as a foliar disease control product but also offers control of soil-borne diseases as well,” states Dobbs. OHP will continue to add additional soil-borne diseases to the Disarm O specimen label. “We are proud to bring yet another winning product to the horticulture market,” notes Terry Higgins, OHP vice president and general manager. “Our goal is to continue to add grower solutions to our product portfolio.”

OHP is a leading marketer of pest control solutions to the production ornamentals market. For more information on Disarm O, click here.

OHP Inc. announces the introduction of its first iPhone application – designed for Apple iPhone®, iTouch® or iPad® users. The PGR Calculator Application is available immediately at no charge through the iTunes® Application Store.

“We wanted to develop a tool that takes the guess work out of the equation when it comes to calculating and applying PGRs (Plant Growth Regulants) in the field,” notes Dave Barcel, OHP senior technical manager and PGR expert. “It’s as easy as making a phone call on the iPhone.” PGR Calculator will allow the user to look up current PGR rates in ppm for spray or drench applications. The grower then enters the desired dose and the size of the application area (L x W) or the number of pots for a drench and the App calculates the amounts of solution and product needed. “A simple tool like this takes the guess work out of PGR applications and calibration. It’s easy and accurate,” adds Barcel.

As a new generation of growers begin to adopt technology into their work practices, applications like the PGR calculator will become useful tools, says Dan Stahl, OHP vice president of marketing and business development. The application allows growers to perform rate calculations for the OHP stable of PGRs, including Augeo™, B-Nine®, Cycocel®, and Paczol®.

“The PGR Calculator Application is further evidence of OHP’s stated goal of providing solutions to the ornamental industry,” says Stahl. OHP will continue to seek cutting-edge technologies to improve its communications with growers and distributors, adds Stahl.

“This is another industry evolution delivering useful technology to our market which we see as invaluable,” says Stahl.

Click here to download the NEW OHP PGR App. (Must have iTunes installed on your computer)